IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 - Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern, Interview Details

IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 - Prelims & Mains Complete Topic-wise Breakdown

Bhaiyon, IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) banking sector ki sabse popular exam hai. 11 public sector banks mein PO banne ka rasta IBPS se jaata hai. CRP PO/MT-XVI ke under 5,000+ posts expected hain (last cycle mein 5,208 thi). Prelims, Mains (Objective + Descriptive), aur Interview - teen stages hain. Is page pe complete topic-wise syllabus milega. 2025 se exam pattern revised hua hai - naye changes bhi covered hain.

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Quick Info

Detail	Information
Exam Name	IBPS PO/MT CRP-XVI 2026
Conducting Body	IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection)
Posts	Probationary Officer / Management Trainee
Total Vacancies	5,000+ expected (last cycle 5,208)
Prelims	100 Qs, 100 Marks, 60 Minutes
Mains	Objective 145 Qs (200 Marks) + Descriptive 25 Marks
Interview	100 Marks
Negative Marking	0.25 marks per wrong answer
Sectional Timing	Yes (section switch nahi kar sakte)
Qualification	Graduation (Any Stream)
Official Website	ibps.in

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Direct Links

Purpose	Link
IBPS Official	ibps.in

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11 Participating Banks

#	Bank Name
1	Bank of Baroda
2	Bank of India
3	Bank of Maharashtra
4	Canara Bank
5	Central Bank of India
6	Indian Bank
7	Indian Overseas Bank
8	Punjab & Sind Bank
9	Punjab National Bank
10	UCO Bank
11	Union Bank of India

SBI apna alag exam conduct karti hai - SBI PO IBPS mein nahi aata.

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Important Dates (CRP PO/MT-XVI)

Event	Date
Notification Expected	June 2026
Prelims Exam	22-23 August 2026
Mains Exam	4 October 2026

Source: IBPS Calendar 2026-27

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Selection Process - 4 Stages

Stage	Details	Weightage
Stage 1	Prelims	Qualifying only (merit mein nahi)
Stage 2	Mains (Objective + Descriptive)	80% weightage in final merit
Stage 3	Interview	20% weightage in final merit
Stage 4	Document Verification + Provisional Allotment	-

Final Merit Formula

Component	Weightage
Mains Score (converted to 80)	80%
Interview Score (converted to 20)	20%
Final Score	Out of 100

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Prelims Exam Pattern (Revised 2025)

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language	30	30	20 min
Quantitative Aptitude	35	30	20 min
Reasoning Ability	35	40	20 min
Total	100	100	60 min

Key Points:

• Sectional timing: Haan - 20 min per section, section switch NAHI kar sakte
• Sectional cut-off: Haan - har section mein minimum marks chahiye + overall cut-off
• Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
• 2025 change: Reasoning marks 35 se badhke 40, Quant marks 35 se ghatte 30

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Prelims Subject-wise Syllabus

English Language (30 Qs, 30 Marks, 20 min)

Topic	Weightage
Reading Comprehension	30-35% (7-10 questions)
Cloze Test	5 questions
Error Detection/Spotting	5 questions
Fill in the Blanks	3-5 questions
Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles	5 questions
Word Swap / Replacement	3-5 questions
Vocabulary	Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms

Quantitative Aptitude (35 Qs, 30 Marks, 20 min)

Topic	Key Areas
Simplification / Approximation	BODMAS, Decimals, Surds
Number Series	Missing/wrong number pattern
Quadratic Equations	Find x, compare
Data Interpretation	Table, Bar, Pie, Line graphs
Percentage	Basic + word problems
Ratio & Proportion	Direct/inverse
Profit, Loss & Discount	Successive, marked price
SI & CI	Formulas, comparison
Time & Work	Pipes & Cisterns
Speed, Time & Distance	Trains, Boats & Streams
Average	Weighted average
Age Problems	Linear equations

Reasoning Ability (35 Qs, 40 Marks, 20 min)

Topic	Key Areas
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement	Linear, Circular, Floor, Box (8-10 Qs)
Syllogism	Only/Only a few type
Coding-Decoding	Letter shifting, new patterns
Inequalities	Direct, Coded
Blood Relations	Family tree problems
Direction & Distance	Compass problems
Alphanumeric Series	Mixed patterns
Order & Ranking	Position finding

Puzzles & Seating Arrangement se sabse zyada questions aate hain (8-10). Isme strong hona zaroori hai.

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Mains Exam Pattern (Revised 2025)

Objective Test

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	40	60	50 min
Data Analysis & Interpretation	35	50	45 min
General/Economy/Banking Awareness	35	50	25 min
English Language	35	40	40 min
Objective Total	145	200	160 min

Descriptive Test

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
English (Essay + Comprehension)	2	25	30 min

Grand Total: 225 Marks, 190 Minutes (3 hrs 10 min)

2025 Changes:

• Objective questions 155 se ghatte 145
• Time 180 min se ghatta 160 min
• Reasoning mein Computer Aptitude merge hua
• Banking Awareness mein Digital/Financial Awareness add hua
• Descriptive paper mein Letter Writing hatake Comprehension aaya

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Mains Subject-wise Syllabus

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (40 Qs, 60 Marks, 50 min)

Topic	Details
Puzzles & Seating	Complex - dual row, multi-variable
Input-Output	Word/number shifting patterns
Logical Reasoning	Statement-Assumptions, Conclusions, Arguments
Critical Reasoning	Passage-based inference
Coding-Decoding	Advanced patterns
Syllogism	Reverse, possibility cases
Computer Fundamentals	Hardware, Software, OS basics
Networking	LAN, WAN, Internet, protocols
MS Office	Word, Excel, PowerPoint features
Memory	RAM, ROM, Cache types
Computer Shortcuts	Common keyboard shortcuts

Data Analysis & Interpretation (35 Qs, 50 Marks, 45 min)

Topic	Details
Table DI	Data tabulation, multi-step calculations
Bar/Pie/Line Graph	Standard charts
Mixed DI	Combination of chart types
Caselet DI	Paragraph-based data (tricky!)
Data Sufficiency	Is data enough to answer?
Probability	Basic probability
Permutation & Combination	Arrangement/selection
All Prelims Arithmetic	Higher difficulty level

General/Economy/Banking Awareness (35 Qs, 50 Marks, 25 min)

Topic	Details
Current Affairs	Last 6 months - national/international
Banking Awareness	RBI policies, repo rate, CRR, SLR
RBI Circulars	Recent guidelines, regulations
Digital Banking	UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS
Financial Awareness	SEBI, IRDAI, NABARD, SIDBI
Government Schemes	Jan Dhan, PM Mudra, financial inclusion
Indian Economy	Budget, GDP, fiscal/monetary policy
International Orgs	IMF, World Bank, ADB
Static GK	Countries, capitals, currencies
Sports & Awards	Recent events

25 min mein 35 questions - ye section sabse fast karna padta hai. Banking terms aur current affairs roz padho.

English Language (35 Qs, 40 Marks, 40 min)

Topic	Details
Reading Comprehension	Long passages, inference-based
Error Detection	Sentence/paragraph level
Sentence Rearrangement	Para Jumbles
Cloze Test	Context-based fill ups
Word Replacement	Vocabulary in context

Descriptive Paper (25 Marks, 30 min)

Task	Marks	Tips
Essay Writing	~15	250-300 words, banking/economy topics
Comprehension	~10	Passage-based questions (2025 se Letter hatake ye aaya)

• Descriptive sirf English mein hota hai
• Banking sector topics pe essay practice karo - "Digital Banking in India", "Financial Inclusion" etc.
• 2025 change: Letter Writing hata diya gaya, uski jagah Comprehension aaya hai

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Interview (100 Marks)

Parameter	Details
Duration	15-20 minutes
Marks	100
Min Qualifying	40% (Gen/EWS/OBC), 25% (SC/ST/PwD)
Panel	Bank officials (3-4 members)

Common Interview Topics

• Why banking career? Why PO?
• Current banking news, RBI policies
• Indian economy, budget highlights
• Personal questions (strengths, weaknesses, hobbies)
• Graduation subjects related questions
• Digital banking, fintech trends

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Preparation Strategy

Prelims Focus

Priority	Subject	Why
1	Reasoning	40 marks - highest, puzzles pe focus
2	Quant	Practice se speed badhti hai
3	English	RC daily practice karo

Mains Focus

Priority	Subject	Why
1	DA&I	50 marks, calculation heavy - speed chahiye
2	Reasoning + Computer	60 marks - highest section
3	Banking Awareness	25 min mein 35 Qs - fast recall chahiye
4	English	RC + descriptive practice

Best Books

Subject	Book
Quant	R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
English	Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis)
Banking/GK	Banking Awareness by Arihant
Current Affairs	Pratiyogita Darpan / Banking Chronicle

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Scam Warning

Banking bharti ke naam pe fraud hota hai!

• "IBPS PO guaranteed selection Rs 5 lakh" - 100% FRAUD
• "Paper leak before exam" - FRAUD - online exam, encrypted
• Sirf ibps.in trust karo - baaki websites fake notification daalti hain
• Kisi agent/coaching ko "guaranteed job" ke paisa mat do
• Scam Alerts dekho

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FAQs

Q: IBPS PO mein sectional timing hota hai? A: Haan! Prelims mein 20-20-20 min aur Mains mein alag-alag time per section. Section switch nahi kar sakte.

Q: Prelims ke marks final merit mein count hote hain? A: Nahi. Prelims sirf qualifying hai. Final merit = Mains (80%) + Interview (20%).

Q: Negative marking kitni hai? A: 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Matlab 4 galat = 1 sahi ka nuksaan. Blank chhodne pe koi penalty nahi.

Q: SBI PO bhi IBPS mein aata hai? A: Nahi. SBI apna alag exam conduct karti hai. IBPS PO mein 11 public sector banks hain (SBI chhod ke).

Q: Interview mein kya poocha jaata hai? A: Banking knowledge, current affairs, economy, personal questions, graduation subjects. 15-20 min ka hota hai. Min 40% (Gen) ya 25% (SC/ST) laana zaroori hai.

Q: Bihar mein kitni posts aati hain? A: State-wise allocation notification ke saath aata hai. Bihar mein major banks - PNB, BOI, Canara Bank mein posts milti hain.

Q: Descriptive paper kaise prepare karun? A: Daily 1 essay + 1 comprehension practice karo. Banking topics pe focus - Digital Banking, Financial Inclusion, RBI policies. 2025 se Letter Writing hata diya gaya, uski jagah Comprehension aaya hai.

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Ye Bhi Zaroor Padhein

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• BPSC 71st Syllabus - Bihar state exam
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IBPS PO mein Mains 80% + Interview 20% = Final Merit. Banking Awareness daily padho!

Page Last Updated: 11 March 2026